When interpreting Thunderbolts*, specifically Bob, through the lens of Bipolar Disorder I think there are obvious flaws in the metaphor, but what it does really well is depict how it can affect other people. This is obviously seen with The Void Rooms but even the fight with Sentry. This isn't to demonize the condition but especially for children with a parent that has Bipolar Disorder it is important to show that it can and does impact others sometimes negatively and that isn't a bad thing necessarily not when it is not in their control. The battle with Sentry shows that that sense of grandiose, the ego that can comes with the highs, reduces everyone else to nothing even super soldiers are useless against him. The Void, however, makes sure to drag everyone else down with him setting the mood and emotion for the city just as the lows of Bipolar Disorder can set the mood and emotion if a household. Now, this metaphor works best to describe the worst of the impact of Bipolar Disorder how it not only consumes the person with it but those around them. Of course, in a film where the mentally ill character is used as a weapon of the villain there's not a lot of room for the positives of it but I think for the sake of the film (most Lewis Pullman's incredible acting) you see the humanity of each facet of the character which is done beautifully and does a decent job especially through the rest of the Thunderbolts* to just go 'yep, this is part of you and we'll deal with it together' which is really nice. Sorry if this doesn't make sense or isn't well articulated the idea popped in my head and I tried to get it all down quickly.
